How long does it take to get approved to visit someone in a Virginia prison?

VADOC says visitor applications take about 45 days to process for Virginia residents. Live out of state? Expect closer to 90 days. These are standard windows, not guarantees. Some applications take longer, so apply as early as possible if you're aiming for a specific visit date.

The online VADOC visitation application takes about 20 to 30 minutes. The catch? You can't save your progress and return later. Set aside time to complete it in one sitting. If interruptions are likely, gather everything you need beforehand so you're not scrambling mid-application.

• ✓ The inmate’s first and/or last name, or their inmate ID number
• ✓ A form of picture ID (such as a driver’s license or passport)
• ✓ Your Social Security Number

VADOC visitor approvals expire three years after the approval date. You'll need to renew before then if you want to keep visiting without a gap.

1. Check your approval date - Your visitation approval expires three years after the day it was approved.
2. Submit your renewal early if you live in Virginia - Apply at least 45 days before your approval expires to keep visits from being interrupted.
3. Submit your renewal even earlier if you live out of state - Apply at least 90 days before expiration for uninterrupted visitation privileges.

VADOC sends status updates to the email address on your application. Check that inbox carefully, including spam and junk folders. Before assuming something went wrong, compare your wait time to the normal processing window: about 45 days for Virginia residents, about 90 days for out-of-state applicants.